Apparatus for printing railway tickets and the like

ABSTRACT

Originals containing ticket information are disposed on a continuously rotating carrier 16. Marks on the carrier designate different originals. A flash lamp 20 is used to illuminate a first set of originals which correspond to a type of ticket information, and flash lamp 25 illiminate a second set of originals which correspond to other ticket information. A lamp 81 is used to remove latent charge from the edge of the ticket caused by residual charge left on the belt 6.

United States Patent Honma et a].

154] APPARATUS FOR PRINTING RAILWAY TICKETS AND THE LIKE [72] inventors: Tsutomu Honma; Tatsuya Yamada; Toshihlde Kawashima, all of Kawasaki-shi; I-Iideo Amano, Tokyoto; Mamoru Mizuguchl, Kawasakishi', Sueldchl Inomata, Yokohamashi; Toshlhiko Oguchl, Kawasaki-shi; l-llroahi Nakano, Yokohama-shi; .Iiro Nagata; Shuji Takao, both of Kawasaki-shi; Takao Nishlhara, Tokyo-t; Takao Sudo, Kawasakishi; Teiji Tomita, Kamakura-shi, all of Japan [73] Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, Kawasaki-shi, Japan 221 Filed: Oct. 14,1969

21 Appl.No.: 866,201

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 17, 1968 Japan ..43/75264 Oct. 17, 1968 Japan ..43/75265 Oct. 17, 1968 Japan ..43/75266 Oct. 17, 1968 Japan ..43/75267 Oct. 17, 1968 Japan ..43/75268 Oct. 17, 1968 Japan ..43/75269 Oct. 26, 1968 Japan ..43/78065 Oct. 31, 1968 Japan ..43/79426 Nov. 27, 1968 Japan ..43/86360 Nov. 27, 1968 Japan ..43/86361 Dec. 3, 1968 Japan ..43/88042 Dec. 3, 1968 Japan ..43/88043 Dec. 3, 1968 Japan ..43/88044 51 Oct. 10,1972

[52] US. Cl 95/4.5 R, 355/28, 355/40, 355/50, 355/67 [51] Int. Cl. ..BZlb 13/00 [58] Field of Search ..355/28; 95/4.$

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,382,763 5/1968 Bruning ..355/ 3,581,302 5/1971 Kolb ..95I4.5 R X 3,590,705 7/1971 Moyround ..9$/4.5 R 2,951,482 9/ 1 960 Higonnet ..95/4.5 2,944,472 7/1960 Hooven ..95/4.5 2,983,187 5/1961 Bone ..355/28 2,989,904 6/1961 Braggs ..95/4.5 3,064,545 1 H1962 Scantlin ..95/4.5 3,141,395 7/1964 OBrien ..95/4.S 3,307,459 3/1967 Proud...........................95/4.5 3,371,588 3/1968 Tambling ..95/4.5 3,485,150 12/1969 Tortorice ..95/4.5 2,453,031 11/1948 Olds ..355l50 Primary Examiner-Samuel 8. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Michael Harris Attorney-Robert E. Burns and Emmanuel J. Lobato [57] ABSTRACT Originals containing ticket information are disposed on a continuously rotating carrier 16. Marks on the carrier designate different originals. A flash lamp is used to illuminate first of ori 'nals which c respond to a type of ticket I: ormatio r i, and flash la /p illiminate a second set of originals which correspond to other ticket information.

A lamp 81 is used to remove latent charge from the edge of the ticket caused by residual charge left on the belt 6.

8 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEBum no I972 SHEEI 1 [IF 8 FIG.4

NO I2 345 FROM TOKYO TO OSAKA VIA TOKAIDO LINE AVAILABLE TERM 4DAYS SECOND CLASS ADULT 69. 9. 3 TOKYO PATENTED UB1 1 0 I972 SHEET 5 OF 8 PATENTEU 10 I97? 3. 696, T 1 7 sum 7 0F 8 FIG.I2

DISPLAY OF RETURN TICKET ONE WAY RETURN FivE DIGIT UNITS J CLASS APPARATUS FOR PRINTING RAILWAY TICKETS AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to ticket printing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus capable of quickly printing and dispensing tickets of many types.

Generally, tickets such as railway tickets, vehicle tickets, and meal tickets are issued in many types, thus requiring much labor and trouble to print, classify, store and supplement them. With regard to railway tickets, for example, they are classified in accordance with destinations, classes, adults and children, and since they are valuable securities, they must be administrated with minute care. For example, at a station issuing tickets addressed to 300 destinations, it is necessary to prepare at least L200 types of tickets for adults, children and different classes (assuming two classes), so that the business involved in the printing, classifying and supplementation of so many types of tickets can be extremely troublesome.

In attempts to overcome these difficulties, there has been developed an apparatus for printing and dispensing tickets at the ticket window as they are purchased by the passengers. According to one prior apparatus, a plurality of types of printing plates including items to be printed upon the surface of tickets and corresponding to the number of types of the tickets to be issued are mounted on a rotary drum. The angle of rotation of the drum and a suitable horizontal line thereof are selected by an operating device to position a selected printing plate at the printing position, and then a ticket is pressed against the printing plate to print thereon predetermined items. With this system, however, the weight of the drum is relatively large because of many types of printing plates. As a result, a relatively long time is required to print and issue a ticket after a command for the selection of the type has been received from a control device.

Generally, in order to maintain customer satisfaction it is necessary to issue tickets in about 2 seconds. For this reason, it is clear that above described system cannot be installed at the ticket window. Moreover, as the tickets are printed mechanically, considerable noise and vibration are created during the printing operation, and such apparatus frequently becomes defective, thus requiring much maintenance time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel apparatus capable of printing and dispensing tickets quickly and without noise.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel apparatus capable of quickly printing and dispensing many types of tickets.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel ticket printing and dispensing apparatus of relatively small size while being capable to dispense a large number of types of the tickets.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ticket printing apparatus capable of providing tickets of excellent quality.

According to the broad aspect of this invention a plurality of originals containing various items to be printed on tickets are mounted on a carrier and the content ofa selected original is printed on the tickets by forming and developing the latent image on a photosensitive paper, preferably by electrophotographic technique.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention there is provided apparatus for printing tickets comprising a continuously movable original carrier carrying a plurality of originals containing various items to be printed on the tickets, means to designate a desired one of the originals, means to momentarily illuminate the designated original, a latent image forming station including an optical system to focus a light image of the illuminated original upon a photosensitive paper to form a latent image, means to develop the latent image on the photosensitive paper, and means to transfer the photosensitive paper to the developing means through the latent image forming station.

In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a ticket printing and dispensing apparatus embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic side view of a ticket printing mechanism embodying this invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of a paper feeding mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a plan view ofa railway ticket showing various items to be printed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of an original carrier;

FIG. 6 is a side view of detecting means associated with the original carrier;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control circuit;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a developing device;

FIGS. 9, l0 and I1 are side views illustrating modified second original carriers; FIG. I2 is a partial enlarged plan view of the original carrier shown in FIG. I 1;

FIG. 13 is a side view of a still further modification of the second original carrier; and

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a control device utilized to control the printing apparatus employing the second original carrier shown in FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference first to FIG. I, there is shown a novel ticket printing and dispensing apparatus generally designated by a reference character A and containing a ticket printing mechanism and a control device. On the front panel B is mounted a matrix of a plurality of station buttons C assigned for respective stations. Various designation buttons E for designating such items as adults, children, one way, return and the like are mounted on the front panel D. At the center thereof is formed a ticket take out passage F through which tickets printed by the ticket printing mechanism are sent out in a manner to be described later.

The ticket printing mechanism is constructed as diagrammatically shown in FIG. 2. More particularly a strip P of a photosensitive paper coated with a photosensitive material, preferably zinc oxide, which changes its resistivity when irradiated with light rays is wound in the form of a roll I. The roll is suitably supported by a machine frame (not shown). The strip P is payed out of the roll I by means of three pairs of rollers 2, 3 and 4 which are driven through synchronously rotating clutches (not shown) at a timed relationship to be described later. Cutting knives 5 are arranged between roller pairs 2 and 3 and are driven in synchronism therewith to successively cut the leading edge of the payed out strip P into discrete tickets. On the exit side of roller pair 4, is disposed a paper feed mechanism 6 which is driven through said clutch to convey at a constant speed sections of the photosensitive paper P severed by cutting knives 5. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the paper feed mechanism 6 comprises an upper paper feed device 60 including a plurality of rollers 7a, 8a, 9a and 10a encircled by two endless belts 11a and 12a at their opposite ends, and a lower paper feed device 6b including parallel rollers 7b, 8b, 9b and 10b similarly encircled by two endless belts 11b and 12b, said upper and lower paper feed devices confronting each other to clamp and feed sections of the photosensitive paper P,. A suitable electrostatic charging device 13 is mounted in the lower paper feed device 6b to face the side of the sections of the photosensitive paper P, on which the photosensitive material has been applied. The charging device may take any one of many forms, but in the illustrated example it includes a plurality of corona discharge wire electrodes 14a and 15b to uniformly deposit a negative electric charge on the surface of the photosensitive paper. An image forming station is disposed to succeed the charging device 13. Thus, above the upper paper feed device 60 is secured a synchronous motor 15 to the machine frame to drive an original carrier l6 in the form of a circular disc of a transparent material such as glass. As shown in FIG. 5, first originals 17 are disposed on the peripheral portion of the disc 16 including such various items as the name of station at which the passcnger takes a train, the name of the station through which his train passes, and the name of the destination station. As shown in FIG. 4, railway tickets printed and dispensed by the novel apparatus contain a number of items which are classified into fixed items including names of stations of departure, pass through and destination and variable items such as adults, children, fare, discount and class. The fixed items are mounted on the first original carrier, while variable items are mounted on a second original carrier and are described hereinafter. A selected combination of these items is focused upon the section of the photosensitive paper P by two optical systems thus enabling preparation of many types of railway tickets. The first original 17 may be positive photographic microfilms bonded to the surface ofdisc 16.

Second originals 18 similarly in the form of positive photographic microfilms containing such variable item patterns as fares for respective designated stations for adults, children and for different classes, are bonded on the inside of the first originals. Each film of the second originals is divided into two equal parts 18a and 18b respectively containing said variable items for the first and second classes. Light sources and optical systems are arranged to focus patterns of the first and second originals 17 and 18 on the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive paper P, carried by the paper feed mechanism 6.

More particularly, a first source of light 20, a xenon lamp for example, is provided to momentarily, illuminate (e.g., for about 5 microseconds, the first originals 17 at an instant to be described later to project or focus the light image of a selected one of the first originals through a first optical system comprising a slit 21, lenses 22 and 23 and a reflecting mirror 24 on the surface of the moving photosensitive paper. Similarly, a second source of light 25, preferably a xenon lamp, is associated with the disc 16 to momentarily illuminate a selected one of the second originals 18a and 18b to focus its light image on the moving photosensitive paper through a second optical system including a slit 27, lenses 26 and 28 and a reflecting mirror 29.

Items not contained in the first and second originals l7 and 18 are stored as positive photographic films which are wound upon another original carriers or rotary drums 30a and 30b. These originals contain such semi-fixed items as date of issue and the number of tickets. Drum 300 is manually rotated to bring its selected item to face slits 31. Thus, the selected items are momentarily exposed to the light from a third source of light or a xenon lamp 32 to focus their images upon the moving photosensitive paper P through a third optical system comprising lenses 33 and 34 and a reflecting mirror 35. The drum 30b is so constructed that each time it is operated, the ticket number is automatically increased by one. Light source 32 is connected to be energized concurrently with the first light source 20 as will be described later. Further, it is to be understood that the optical system 33-35 and drums 30a and 30b may be arranged either to concurrently focus images of items on both drums or to sequentially focus them.

A control means is provided to selectively focus respective originals on the photosensitive paper P, to form corresponding latent images thereon. The control means comprises opaque trigger marks 40 disposed on the outside of the originals 17 at a definite relationship with respect to each film, for example on the center line thereof as shown in FIG. 5. Further, in order to predetermine the order of trigger marks 40 an opaque start mark 41 is provided near the center of disc 16 corresponding to one of trigger marks 40. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, beneath rotary disc 16 are disposed a first detecting means comprising photoelectric converting elements such as CdS or solar cells 42 and 43 to oppose the loci of movements of the trigger marks 40 and a second detecting means comprising similar photoelectric converting means 44 to oppose the locus of movement of the start mark 41. On the opposite side of photosensitive element 42, 43 and 44 are disposed normally energized lamps 42a, 43a and 44a. The first detecting means 42 is spaced from a position of disc 16 at which the optical axis of the first optical system intersects the surface thereof by an angle corresponding to the interval of time required for a section of the photosensitive paper P cut by cutting knives 5 and conveyed by rollers 3 and 4 and paper feeding mechanism 6 to reach the image forming station so as to cause the center of one of the first originals designated by the process described later to coincide with the optical axis of the first optical system when the section of the photosensitive paper reaches the image forming station. On the other hand, a detecting means 43 is disposed relative to the optical axis of the first optical system to have the same relationship as that between respective trigger mark 40 and respective films of the first originals 17. These component parts are controlled by a circuit shown in FIG. 7.

Depression of a station button C on the front panel D shown in FIG. 1 generates a code peculiar to the designated station which is applied to one input of a coincidence circuit 51, shown in FlG. 7. Disc 16 is normally rotated at a constant speed, for example at 2 r.p.s, so that when start mark 41 is detected by the second detecting means 44 subsequent to the depression of said station button C, a counter 52 commences to count the number of pulses detected by the first detecting means 42 to supply its output to a second input to the coincidence circuit 51. Consequently, coincidence circuit 51 provides an output when the first detecting means 42 detects a trigger mark of the same order as said station code from the trigger mark corresponding to start mark 41. This output from coincidence circuit 51 actuates the clutch which drives rollers 3 and 4 and paper feed mechanism 6. Concurrently therewith, charger 13 is also actuated to deposit uniform negative charge on the moving photosensitive paper P,. When rollers 2 actuated by the clutch advances the strip P, by a length corresponding to the length of one ticket, the cutter knives 5 are actuated to sever the strip P. Then roller 2, 3 and 4 are stopped to prepare for the next cycle. The output from the coincidence circuit 51 is also applied to a delay circuit 53 which operates to delay the signal for a constant interval in which a section of the photosensitive paper P, travels from its start position to the image forming station whereby to generate a relatively wide pulse. The output of delay circuit 53 and the output of the second photoelectric converting element 43 are connected to an AND circuit 54 to momentarily energize the first source of light by its output. A predetermined delay period is provided after the transfer of the section of the sensitized paper P, has been initiated by the output from coincidence circuit 51, whereupon a relatively wide pulse is generated, and when the second detecting means 43 detects trigger mark 40 during the duration of this pulse, the source of light 20 is energized so that regardless of some variations in the delay time or speed of movement of the section of the photosensitive paper P, or in the rotational speed of disc 16, the light image of the original will be focused with its center precisely coinciding with the center of the section of the photosensitive paper P, to form an electrostatic latent image wherein portions corresponding to items such as characters to be displayed to retain the negative charge, whereas the background does not retain a charge.

The third source of light 32 is connected to AND circuit 54 together with the first source of light 20, so that when the rotary drum a is set to display the date of issue, such date and the number of the ticket provided by rotary drum 30b are focused on the section of the photosensitive paper P, together with the light image of a film of first original 17.

As shown in FIG. 5, rotary disc 16 is also provided with opaque trigger marks 55 on the inside of the second originals 18, equal in number and at a definite relationship therewith, for example, in radial alignment with the center lines of originals 18a assigned for the second class. A detecting means in the form of a photoelectric converting element 56 is disposed to confront against the loci of movement of trigger marks 55 and in the same radial direction as the second detecting means 43. On the side of rotary disc 16 opposite to photoelectric converting element 56 is disposed a normally energized electric lamp 57.

An output from a class designating button, for example, a first class button 60, among designating buttons E shown in FIG. 1 is supplied to an AND circuit 62 through a NOT circuit 61 together with the output from AND circuit 54 and detecting means 56. The output from AND circuit 62 is supplied to the second illuminating means 25 through an OR circuit 63.

Accordingly, as long as the first class button 60 is not depressed, NOT circuit 61 generates an output so that upon detection of trigger mark 55 by detecting means 56 while AND circuit 54 is providing an output, AND circuit 62 operates to momentarily energize the illu minating means 25 through OR circuit 63 to focus the items of second class, that is, the image of original 18a on the section of the photosensitive paper P,.

The output from the first class button 60 is also supplied to the input of AND circuit 64 together with the outputs from AND circuit 54 and detecting means 56, and the output of AND circuit 64 is connected to OR circuit 63 through a delay circuit 65 having a time delay corresponding to the interval between coincidence of the optical axis of the second optical system and the center of the original 18a of originals l8 and the coincidence of the optical axis and the center of the next original 18b.

Accordingly, upon operation of the first class button 60, AND circuit 62 does not operate because of the absence of the output from NOT circuit 61 whereas AND circuit 64 operates when detecting means 56 detccts the trigger mark 55 in the presence of an output from AND circuit 54 to momentarily energize the illuminating means 25 through OR circuit 63 after the delay time provided by delay circuit 65. As a result, the light image of original 18b including various items relating to the first class is focused on the section of the photosensitive paper P,.

The section of the photosensitive paper P, on which a required latent image has been formed is then transferred to a developing section 66. Although the developing section or station 66 may be any one of many well known types, in the illustrated example it comprises a container 67 containing a liquid developer containing a positively charged toner, feed rollers 68 for the sections of photosensitive paper P, and means 69 to apply the liquid developer to the sensitized surface of the photosensitive paper P,. As best shown in FIG. 8, feed rollers 68 comprise feed rollers 70 and pinch roller 71. These rollers are provided with reduced diameter portions 72 and 73 at their center which are narrower than the width of the section of the photosensitive paper P The end portions 74 and 75 of rollers 70 and 71 adjacent the reduced diameter portions are made of relatively soft material. Shafts 70a of feed rollers 70 are journalled in the machine frame (not shown), while pinch rollers 71 are normally urged against feed rollers 70 by means of springs 76.

A pedestal 77 is secured to the inner bottom of container 67 to support a liquid developer supply plate 78 with its longitudinal axis aligned with the direction of movement of the photosensitive paper P,. One end of supply plate 78 terminates at the reduced diameter portion 72 of the lefthand feed roller 70 with its upper surface held close to the contact line between feed rollers 70 and pinch rollers 71. The opposite end of supply plate 78 is positioned very close to the upper surface of a supply roller 79 which is driven to rotate in the opposite direction as that of the movement of the photosensitive paper P,, the lower end of roller 79 being normally dipped in the liquid developer.

Thus, the liquid developer is supplied to the supply plate 78 from supply roller 79 and thence to the lower surface of sensitized surface of a section of the photosensitive paper 1" having a latent image formed thereon, and is advanced by relatively soft end portions 74 and 75 of rollers 70 and 71 without being wrinkled to develop the latent image by the charged toner contained in the liquid developer. The section of the sensitized paper I thus developed is passed through suitable squeezing rollers (not shown) to remove the liquid developer, dried when desired,and is sent to the passage F of the apparatus A as a completed railway ticket.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 additional illuminating means 81 and 82 may be provided at the discharge end of endless belts Ila (11b) and 12a (12b) to irradiate opposite side edges of the section of the photosensitive paper P formed with the latent image, since due to the charge deposited on belts 11a, 12a, 11b and 12b of the paper feed mechanism 6, the edges of the ticket will be unduly contaminated. Irradiation by illuminating means 81 and 82 discharges such undesirable charge on the side edges of the photosensitive paper P In the above described embodiment originals for fixed and variable items are positive light images so that when these images are projected upon charged surface of the photosensitive paper, the charge on the background, that is, portions not printed with designated items, is caused to discharge by the action of the photosensitive effect. The printed portions or charge retaining portions are applied with the toner to effect the so-called positive development. However, as the brightness of the lamp decreases due to aging or due to contamination of the optical systems, the discharge of the charge on the photosensitive paper becomes insufficient when it is exposed to light, thus degrading the quality of the ticket due to the toner ad hering to unwanted portions. Further, when fixed and variable items are combined by means of a plurality of optical systems as in this example, the difference in the quantity of charge of the backgrounds for different items tends to result in a boundary line due to the socalled fringing field.

Accordingly, by utilizing so-called negative images for originals 17 and 18 on the rotary disc 16 (FIG. and rotary drums 30a and 30b (FIG. 2), wherein items such as characters and the like are made transparent while the background is opaque, and by projecting such light images on the negatively charged photosensitive paper, negative latent images can be formed. When developed with a liquid developer containing a negatively charged toner, the negatively charged toner will adhere to display items which are apparently charged positively. However as the background is charged negatively, the toner does not adhere thereto so that a clear ticket can be obtained. For this reason, there is no clifference in the quantity of charge on the background thus providing a ticket of high quality.

Alternatively, the latent image of variable items can also be formed in the following manner.

Although in the previous embodiment, variable items, that is, a portion of the original, were mounted on rotary disc 16, these variable items may be mounted on a second original carrier as shown in FIG. 9. More particularly, a disc 16a is driven by an electric motor 15a in the same manner as disc 16 shown in FIG. 2 except that disc 16a is rotated in a vertical plane. A light image of the selected original on disc 16a is projected upon a section of the photosensitive paper I, by the light from illuminating means 20a through a lens 23a and a reflecting mirror 240. Another disc carrying variable items is disposed to oppose disc 16a and is driven by an electric motor 96. Although not shown in the drawing, originals in the form of photographic films containing predetermined variable items such as adults, children, one way, return, and fares for first and second classes are mounted on the disc 95 with equal spacings. In the same manner as the previous embodiment, a given original designated by a designating button is illuminated by an illuminating means 98, such as a xenon lamp, under control of detecting means 97, and the light image is projected upon the section of the photosensitive paper P, through an optical system including a lens 99 and a reflecting mirror 100 to form a latent image. Alternatively, variable items may be subdivided into respective items so as to energize illuminating means 98 at each revolution of disc 95. It is to be understood that, in this case, the section of the photosensitive paper P, is required to be held stationary.

Further, the variable items can also be formed in the following manner. In the modification shown in FIG. 10, there are provided a stationary plate 101 provided with originals for respective variable items and a plurality of illuminating means such as xenon lamps 1020, 102b and 102s which correspond to respective originals and which are energized selectively. As above described, when an original designated by a designating button is illuminated by an associated illuminating means, 1020 for example, the light image of the designated original is projected upon the section of the photosensitive paper P, through a lens 103 and a reflecting mirror 104 to form a latent image.

It is also possible to form variable items with needle electrodes. As shown in the left upper corner of FIG. 10, needle electrodes 106 are mounted on an insulating block 105 corresponding to the printing position of variable items of the tickets, said electrodes being arranged in a row with a density of about two needles per millimeter. Selective application of negative pulse to needle electrodes corresponding to selected variable items gives a latent image of letters in the form of dots.

Originals on original carrier 95 (FIG. 9) are so arranged that latent images of variable items are formed on the photosensitive paper in a plurality of rows along the direction of movement thereof. In such a case, it is preferable to dispose a latent image erasing means, such as a lamp (not shown), corresponding to respective variable items in front of the developing station whereby to erase unnecessary latent images by the selective energization of lamps under control of the designating button.

Alternatively, a suitable shutter may be associated with a rotary disc carrying originals of variable items to selectively form latent image of desired originals.

Thus, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, a circular disc 111 carrying originals (to be described hereunder) is driven by an electric motor 110. As before, the light image of the original is projected upon a section of the a section of the paper P by means of an illuminating means 112, such as a xenon lamp, a lens 113 and a reflecting mirror 114. A shutter 115 is interposed between disc 111 and illuminating means 112. As shown in FIG. 12, shutter 115 is provided with shutter slots 115a, 115b, 115e, 115d, 115e and 115f corresponding to respective variable items, and these slots are provided with shutter plates 116, 117, 118 and 119, respectively, to selectively open and close them. ltems such as one way, return, adults, children, fare, class, notice and the like are also written for respective slots and these items are arranged in such a manner that their loci of movement coincide with each other. Further, groups of digits for different units are dis placed in the radial direction as shown.

To prepare a ticket for a child a designating button of the apparatus is depressed to open shutter plate A while other shutter plates 117, 118 and 119 are held closed. Then, upon detection of a trigger mark (not shown in FIG. 12), at an instant when a word children" passes by slot 115a, illuminating means 112 is caused to flash, thus forming a latent image of children on the section of the photosensitive paper P, which is not held stationary at the image printing position. Assuming a fare of 815 Yen, while only shutter plate 117 is held open, illuminating means 112 is caused to flash each time slot 115C passes by a digit of the first unit, a digit "1" of the second or tens unit and a digit 8" of the third or hundreds unit, thus producing a desired latent image. Although not shown in the drawing, trigger marks are provided for respective digits which are detected to operate synchronously the illuminating means.

Latent images of variable items can also be formed by utilizing a servo-mechanism in the following manner. More particularly, as shown in FIG. 13, second originals containing variable items are mounted on a belt shaped carrier 112 extending between rolls 120 and 121, which are driven by servo-motors Ma and Mb respectively. Carrier 122 is made of a transparent and flexible material, and said originals are formed by vapor deposition, etching or photographic negative microfilms bonded thereto. Both side edges of the carrier are provided with suitable codes corresponding to trigger marks for respective originals, said codes being read by a read out device 123. An illuminating means 124 such as a xenon lamp is energized by a control circuit to be described later to project the image of the original to the same section of the photosensitive paper P, through lenses 125 and 126 and a reflecting mirror 127 to form a latent image of variable items.

In the control circuit shown in FIG. 14, a code corresponding to the type of ticket designated by the operation of a station button C and a class button 128 and a code generated by a reader 123 are subtracted in a substraction circuit 129. The output from this circuit is compared with a positive reference value in a comparator 130 to energize either a servomotor Ma or a Servo-motor Mb depending upon the polarity of the output from the comparator to drive the carrier 122 to the right or left. ()peration of the servo-motors is L0 stopped when a preset code and read out code coincide, and the image of a selected original comes to coincide with the optical axis of the optical system. At this time the illuminating means 124 is energized to form a latent image on the photosensitive paper.

Although in the above described examples a photosensitive paper coated with a photoconductive material was used, it is to be understood that another photosensitive paper, for example one that can be developed chemically such as blue print papers, can also be used. Instead of a xenon lamp, other types of illuminating means such as a laser, a mercury lamp, etc, can also be used. To provide flash light it is possible to use a shutter mechanism. Further, liquid developer can be replaced by powder developer.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for printing tickets comprising a continuously movable original carrier, a plurality of originals disposed on said carrier and containing various fixed items to be printed on said tickets; means to designate any one of said originals; means to momentarily illuminate said designated original; a latent image forming means including an optical system having an axis for focusing a light image of said illuminated original upon a photosensitive paper to form a latent image; charging means upstream of said image forming means to apply a uniform charge on said photosensitive paper; means to develop said latent image on said photosensitive paper; means comprising transfer belts cooperative to transfer said photosensitive paper along a path to said developing means through said latent image forming means; means for selectively forming an additional latent image of a selected one of a plurality of variable items on said photosensitive paper independently of said first mentioned latent image of said originals; and means to eliminate a charge effect caused by said transfer belts.

2. Apparatus for printing tickets comprising a continuously movable original carrier, a plurality of originals disposed on said carrier and containing various fixed items to be printed on said tickets; means to designate any one of said originals; means to momentarily illuminate said designated original; a latent image forming means including an optical system having an axis for focusing a light image of said illuminated original upon a photosensitive paper to form a latent image; means to develop said latent image on said photosensitive paper; means to transfer said photosensitive paper along a path to said developing means through said latent image forming means; means for selectively forming an additional latent image of a selected one of a plurality of variable items on said photosensitive paper independently of said first-mentioned latent image of said originals, said means for selectively forming said additional latent image on said photosensitive paper comprising a second original carrier, a plurality of second originals, second optical means for selectively combining said second originals with said originals of said first-mentioned original carrier to form a desired pattern, second designating means to designate a desired original on said second original carrier, second illuminating means to momentarily illuminate said designated second original, wherein said second optical means is responsive to the operation of said second illuminating means to focus the light image of said designated second original on said photosensitive paper, said second illuminating means simultaneously illuminating all of said second originals, said second designating means is for selectively focusing a plurality of patterns at the same time on said photosensitive paper, and further comprising image erasing means provided downstream of said image forming means corresponding to respective originals so as to erase unnecessary latent images, said image erasing means being selectively operated by said second designating means, and said image erasing means comprising illuminating means.

3. Apparatus for printing tickets comprising a continuously movable original carrier, a plurality of originals disposed on said carrier and containing various fixed items to be printed on said tickets; means to designate any one of said originals; means to momentarily illuminate said designated original; a latent image forming means including an optical system having an axis for focusing a light image of said illuminated original upon a photosensitive paper to form a latent image; means to develop said latent image on said photosensitive paper; means to transfer said photosensitive paper along a path to said developing means through said latent image forming means; means for selectively forming an additional latent image of a selected one of a plurality of variable items on said photosensitive paper independently of said first-mentioned latent image of said originals, said means for selectively forming said additional latent image on said photosensitive paper comprising a second original carricr, a plurality of second originals, second optical means for selectively combining said second original with said originals of said firsbmentioned original carrier to form a desired pattern, second designating means to designate a desired original on said second original carrier, second illuminating means to momentarily illuminate said designated second original, wherein said second optical means is responsive to theoperation of said second illuminating means to focus the light image of said designated second original on said photosensitive paper, and said carrier comprising a web of continuous photographic film advanced continuously.

4. Apparatus for printing tickets comprising a continuously movable original carrier, a plurality of originals disposed on said carrier and containing various fixed items to be printed on said tickets; means to designate any one of said originals; means to momentarily illuminate said designated original; a latent image forming means including an optical system having an axis for focusing a light image of said illuminated original upon a photosensitive paper to form a latent image; means to develop said latent image on said photosensitive paper; means comprising transfer belts cooperative to transfer said photosensitive paper along a path to said developing means through said latent image forming means; means for selectively forming an additional latent image of a selected one of a plurality of variable items on said photosensitive paper independently of said first-mentioned latent image of said originals, said means for selectively forming said additional latent image on said photosensitive paper comprising a second original carrier, a plurality of second originals, second optical means for selectively combining said second original with said originals of said firstmentioned original carrier to form a desired pattern, second designating means to designate a desired original on said second original carrier, second illuminating means to momentarily illuminate said designated second original, wherein said second optical means is responsive to the operation of said second illuminating means to focus the light image of said designated second original on said photosensitive paper, and said second carrier comprising a rotary transparent disc carrying a plurality of second originals.

5. Apparatus for printing tickets comprising a continuously movable original carrier, a plurality of originals disposed on said carrier and containing various fixed items to be printed on said tickets; means to designate any one of said originals; means to momentarily illuminate said designated original; a latent image forming means including an optical system having an axis for focusing a light image of said illuminated original upon a photosensitive paPer to form a latent image; means to develop said latent image on said photosensitive paper; means to transfer said photosensitive paper along a path to said developing means through said latent image forming means; means for selectively forming an additional latent image of a selected one of a plurality of variable items on said photosensitive paper independently of said first-mentioned latent image of said originals, said means for selectively forming an additional latent image independent of the latent image of said first-mentioned original on said photosensitive paper comprising a rotary disc, a plurality of second originals carried on said disc, shutter means to selectively interrupt light impinging upon said second originals, and an optical system to focus an image of an illuminated second original on said photosensitive paper.

6. Apparatus for printing tickets comprising a continuously movable original carrier, a plurality of originals disposed on said carrier and containing various fixed items to be printed on said tickets; means to designate any one of said originals; means to momentarily illuminate said designated original; a latent image forming means including an optical system having an axis for focusing a light image of said illuminated original upon a photosensitive paper to form a latent image; means to develop said latent image on said photosensitive paper; means to transfer said photosensitive paper along a path to said developing means through said latent image forming means; means for selectively forming an additional latent image of a selected one of a plurality of variable items on said photosensitive paper independently of said first-mentioned latent image of said originals, said means for selectively forming an additional latent image independent of the latent image of said first-mentioned originals on said photosensitive paper comprising a reversible second original carrier, a plurality of second originals carried on said reversible second carrier, means to designate one of said second originals, second illuminating means for momentarily illuminating said designated second original, and a second optical system for focusing the pattern of said illuminated second original to form said additional latent image thereof on said photosensitive paper.

7. Apparatus for printing tickets comprising a continuously movable original carrier, a plurality of originals disposed on said carrier and containing various fixed items to be printed on said tickets; means to designate any one of said originals; means to momentarily illuminate said designated original; a latent image forming means including an optical system having an axis for focusing a light image of said illuminated original upon a photosensitive paper to form a latent image; means to develop said latent image on said photosensitive paper, transfer belts to transfer said photosensitive paper along a path to said developing means through said latent image forming means; means for selectively forming an additional latent image of a selected one of a plurality of variable items on said photosensitive paper independently of said first-mentioned latent image of said originals, and means for eliminating a charge effect caused by said transfer belts comprising means for illuminating portions of said photosensitive paper which have been contacted by said transfer belts.

8. Apparatus for printing tickets comprising a continuously movable original carrier, a plurality of originals disposed on said carrier and containing various fixed items to be printed on said tickets; means to designate any one of said originals; means to momentarily illuminate said designated original; a latent image forming means including an optical system having an axis for focusing a light image of said illuminated original upon a photosensitive paper to form a latent image; means to develop said latent image on said photosensitive paper; means to transfer said photosensitive paper along a path to said developing means through said latent image forming means; means for selectively forming an additional latent image of a selected one of a plurality of variable items on said photosensitive paper independently of said first-mentioned latent image of said originals, said means for selectively forming swid additional latent image on said photosensitive paper comprising a second original carrier, a plurality of second originals, second optical means for selectively combining said second original with said originals of said first-mentioned original carrier to form a desired pattern, second designating means to designate a desired original on said second original carrier, second illuminating means to momentarily illuminate said designated second original, wherein said second optical means is responsive to the operation of said second illuminating means to focus the light image of said designated second original on said photosensitive paper, said second illuminating means simultaneously illuminating all of said second originals, said second designating means is for selectively focusing a plurality of patterns at the same time on said photosensitive paper, and further comprising image erasing means provided downstream of said image forming means corresponding to respective originals so as to erase unnecessary latent images, said image erasing means being selectively operated by said second designating means. 

1. Apparatus for printing tickets comprising a continuously movable original carrier, a plurality of originals disposed on said carrier and containing various fixed items to be printed on said tickets; means to designate any one of said originals; means to momentarily illuminate said designated original; a latent image forming means including an optical system having an axis for focusing a light image of said illuminated original upon a photosensitive paper to form a latent image; charging means upstream of said image forming means to apply a uniform charge on said photosensitive paper; means to develop said latent image on said photosensitive paper; means comprising transfer belts cooperative to transfer said photosensitive paper along a path to said developing means through said latent image forming means; means for selectively forming an additional latent image of a selected one of a plurality of variable items on said photosensitive paper independently of said first mentioned latent image of said originals; and means to eliminate a charge effect caused by said transfer belts.
 2. Apparatus for printing tickets comprising a continuously movable original carrier, a plurality of originals disposed on said carrier and containing various fixed items to be printed on said tickets; means to designate any one of said originals; means to momentarily illuminate said designated original; a latent image forming means including an optical system having an axis for focusing a light image of said illuminated original upon a photosensitive paper to form a latent image; means to develop said latent image on said photosensitive paper; means to transfer said photosensitive paper along a path to said developing means through said latent imAge forming means; means for selectively forming an additional latent image of a selected one of a plurality of variable items on said photosensitive paper independently of said first-mentioned latent image of said originals, said means for selectively forming said additional latent image on said photosensitive paper comprising a second original carrier, a plurality of second originals, second optical means for selectively combining said second originals with said originals of said first-mentioned original carrier to form a desired pattern, second designating means to designate a desired original on said second original carrier, second illuminating means to momentarily illuminate said designated second original, wherein said second optical means is responsive to the operation of said second illuminating means to focus the light image of said designated second original on said photosensitive paper, said second illuminating means simultaneously illuminating all of said second originals, said second designating means is for selectively focusing a plurality of patterns at the same time on said photosensitive paper, and further comprising image erasing means provided downstream of said image forming means corresponding to respective originals so as to erase unnecessary latent images, said image erasing means being selectively operated by said second designating means, and said image erasing means comprising illuminating means.
 3. Apparatus for printing tickets comprising a continuously movable original carrier, a plurality of originals disposed on said carrier and containing various fixed items to be printed on said tickets; means to designate any one of said originals; means to momentarily illuminate said designated original; a latent image forming means including an optical system having an axis for focusing a light image of said illuminated original upon a photosensitive paper to form a latent image; means to develop said latent image on said photosensitive paper; means to transfer said photosensitive paper along a path to said developing means through said latent image forming means; means for selectively forming an additional latent image of a selected one of a plurality of variable items on said photosensitive paper independently of said first-mentioned latent image of said originals, said means for selectively forming said additional latent image on said photosensitive paper comprising a second original carrier, a plurality of second originals, second optical means for selectively combining said second original with said originals of said first-mentioned original carrier to form a desired pattern, second designating means to designate a desired original on said second original carrier, second illuminating means to momentarily illuminate said designated second original, wherein said second optical means is responsive to the operation of said second illuminating means to focus the light image of said designated second original on said photosensitive paper, and said carrier comprising a web of continuous photographic film advanced continuously.
 4. Apparatus for printing tickets comprising a continuously movable original carrier, a plurality of originals disposed on said carrier and containing various fixed items to be printed on said tickets; means to designate any one of said originals; means to momentarily illuminate said designated original; a latent image forming means including an optical system having an axis for focusing a light image of said illuminated original upon a photosensitive paper to form a latent image; means to develop said latent image on said photosensitive paper; means comprising transfer belts cooperative to transfer said photosensitive paper along a path to said developing means through said latent image forming means; means for selectively forming an additional latent image of a selected one of a plurality of variable items on said photosensitive paper independently of said first-mentioned latent image of said originals, said means for selectiveLy forming said additional latent image on said photosensitive paper comprising a second original carrier, a plurality of second originals, second optical means for selectively combining said second original with said originals of said first-mentioned original carrier to form a desired pattern, second designating means to designate a desired original on said second original carrier, second illuminating means to momentarily illuminate said designated second original, wherein said second optical means is responsive to the operation of said second illuminating means to focus the light image of said designated second original on said photosensitive paper, and said second carrier comprising a rotary transparent disc carrying a plurality of second originals.
 5. Apparatus for printing tickets comprising a continuously movable original carrier, a plurality of originals disposed on said carrier and containing various fixed items to be printed on said tickets; means to designate any one of said originals; means to momentarily illuminate said designated original; a latent image forming means including an optical system having an axis for focusing a light image of said illuminated original upon a photosensitive paPer to form a latent image; means to develop said latent image on said photosensitive paper; means to transfer said photosensitive paper along a path to said developing means through said latent image forming means; means for selectively forming an additional latent image of a selected one of a plurality of variable items on said photosensitive paper independently of said first-mentioned latent image of said originals, said means for selectively forming an additional latent image independent of the latent image of said first-mentioned original on said photosensitive paper comprising a rotary disc, a plurality of second originals carried on said disc, shutter means to selectively interrupt light impinging upon said second originals, and an optical system to focus an image of an illuminated second original on said photosensitive paper.
 6. Apparatus for printing tickets comprising a continuously movable original carrier, a plurality of originals disposed on said carrier and containing various fixed items to be printed on said tickets; means to designate any one of said originals; means to momentarily illuminate said designated original; a latent image forming means including an optical system having an axis for focusing a light image of said illuminated original upon a photosensitive paper to form a latent image; means to develop said latent image on said photosensitive paper; means to transfer said photosensitive paper along a path to said developing means through said latent image forming means; means for selectively forming an additional latent image of a selected one of a plurality of variable items on said photosensitive paper independently of said first-mentioned latent image of said originals, said means for selectively forming an additional latent image independent of the latent image of said first-mentioned originals on said photosensitive paper comprising a reversible second original carrier, a plurality of second originals carried on said reversible second carrier, means to designate one of said second originals, second illuminating means for momentarily illuminating said designated second original, and a second optical system for focusing the pattern of said illuminated second original to form said additional latent image thereof on said photosensitive paper.
 7. Apparatus for printing tickets comprising a continuously movable original carrier, a plurality of originals disposed on said carrier and containing various fixed items to be printed on said tickets; means to designate any one of said originals; means to momentarily illuminate said designated original; a latent image forming means including an optical system having an axis for focusing a light image of said illuminated original upon a photosensitive paper to form a latent image; means to develop said latent Image on said photosensitive paper; transfer belts to transfer said photosensitive paper along a path to said developing means through said latent image forming means; means for selectively forming an additional latent image of a selected one of a plurality of variable items on said photosensitive paper independently of said first-mentioned latent image of said originals, and means for eliminating a charge effect caused by said transfer belts comprising means for illuminating portions of said photosensitive paper which have been contacted by said transfer belts.
 8. Apparatus for printing tickets comprising a continuously movable original carrier, a plurality of originals disposed on said carrier and containing various fixed items to be printed on said tickets; means to designate any one of said originals; means to momentarily illuminate said designated original; a latent image forming means including an optical system having an axis for focusing a light image of said illuminated original upon a photosensitive paper to form a latent image; means to develop said latent image on said photosensitive paper; means to transfer said photosensitive paper along a path to said developing means through said latent image forming means; means for selectively forming an additional latent image of a selected one of a plurality of variable items on said photosensitive paper independently of said first-mentioned latent image of said originals, said means for selectively forming swid additional latent image on said photosensitive paper comprising a second original carrier, a plurality of second originals, second optical means for selectively combining said second original with said originals of said first-mentioned original carrier to form a desired pattern, second designating means to designate a desired original on said second original carrier, second illuminating means to momentarily illuminate said designated second original, wherein said second optical means is responsive to the operation of said second illuminating means to focus the light image of said designated second original on said photosensitive paper, said second illuminating means simultaneously illuminating all of said second originals, said second designating means is for selectively focusing a plurality of patterns at the same time on said photosensitive paper, and further comprising image erasing means provided downstream of said image forming means corresponding to respective originals so as to erase unnecessary latent images, said image erasing means being selectively operated by said second designating means. 